On April 11, 2005, the Red Sox finally celebrated a World Series ring ceremony after enduring a drought of 86 agonizing years.

Conveniently, it was against their hated, longtime rivals, the New York Yankees. The same team the Red Sox mounted a historic comeback against during the previous year’s ALCS – a series the Yankees once led 3-0.

As Mariano Rivera made his pre-game introductory jog in left field, he was greeted by an unfamiliar reaction from the Fenway Park patrons: applause.

Not that it was genuine by any stretch of the imagination. More so, it was done in jest, as the Yankees’ closer was largely responsible for getting Boston back into that series after blowing saves in Games 4 and 5.

His response? A grin, laughter and a tip of the cap.

That was probably the moment Rivera etched a special place in the hearts of Red Sox faithful as a Yankee that – dare it be said – wasn’t so bad after all.

Eight years later, during Saturday’s matchup between the two rivals at Fenway, the Boston fans treated Rivera to yet another standing ovation. However, this time around, the gesture was nothing but sincere.

Just goes to show, even bitter rivals hate to say goodbye.

Back in March, the 43-year-old closer announced that the 2013 season would be his last. It’s a career that dates back to May 23, 1995.

Back then, Montell Jordan’s “This is How We Do It” dominated the Billboard charts, an entire nation was enthralled in the O.J. Simpson trial, and the first installment of Toy Story was set to hit theaters on Thanksgiving weekend.

Seems like a lifetime ago.

As a five-time World Series champion, 13-time All-Star, the 1999 World Series MVP and the runner-up for the 2005 AL Cy Young Award, Rivera stands in a class of his own. He’s also the MLB’s all-time leader in saves with 639 and holds a career ERA of 2.20 and a 1.000 WHIP – both are the lowest marks in baseball’s live ball era.

But it’s the postseason that has really defined Rivera’s dominance on the mound.

In 96 playoff appearances, he has an ERA of 0.70, a WHIP of 0.759 and 42 saves. All three are MLB records among pitchers with at least 40 innings pitched.

As far as runs allowed goes, let’s just put it this way: More men have walked on the moon (12) than been able to score (11) against Rivera.

However, don’t expect him to get caught up in the hype.

“Don’t get me wrong, I do appreciate (the recognition),” Rivera said. “But at the same time, I’m a team player. I hate to talk about myself and those stats. The most important thing is that we win. Twenty saves, 30 saves, 50 saves, whatever it is. As long as we win, it doesn’t matter.”

Page 2 of 2 - It’s that mindset that makes him a favorite with teammates. Among them is starter Andy Pettitte, whom Rivera has saved an MLB-record 72 times.

“It’s been real special for me watching him this year and knowing this is it,” said the New York ace. “He’s a tremendous person and teammate. Obviously, as a pitch, I always feel real secure and good about things whenever you see that guy running in from the bullpen in the ninth.”

Not surprisingly, the respect is also shared among the Yankees’ biggest rivals.

“The way he goes about his business, the way he’s competed, he’s first class,” said Red Sox second basemen Dustin Pedroia. “He’s dealing this year. It’s never fun when you see him warming up in the bullpen to come in and pitch against you.”

Boston designated hitter David Ortiz feels the same.

“(Rivera), to me, is one of the two or three best pitchers who’ve ever played the game,” Ortiz said. “I mean, the guy has one pitch. One pitch, and nobody can hit him? Come on. I think 100 years will go by before another Mariano Rivera pops up.”

The Red Sox may not be Rivera’s easiest out – they are responsible for 15 of his 41 blown saves since 2001 – but he still has nothing but admiration for them.

“It’s been great,” he said about playing Boston. “Not only facing (Ortiz), but all the talented hitters on that team. It’s been a privilege to compete against them. I’ll definitely miss it.”

Sure, Rivera may be on his way out. But it’d be foolish to expect anything less than a full-blown sprint for his victory lap.

Through 39 games this season, Rivera has posted an ERA of 1.78 while recording 31 saves out of 33 opportunities. He only trails Baltimore Orioles’ Jim Johnson (34) in the category.

Everyone wants to end their career on top. But for Rivera, it’s who he’s ending his career with that matters most.

“It’s truly an honor to finish out my career in New York,” he said. “The best thing for me that happened was the Lord blessing me with this uniform, the New York Yankees uniform. All I have to say is thank God for that.”